This Main Event is No Blockbuster : Boxing: Orlin Norris faces a less-than-stellar opponent tonight. Another bout is canceled because fighter is not approved by state.

Richard Esquinas, the Sports Arena’s president and general manager, excites San Diego boxing fans when he talks of the future.

Esquinas is bidding for the Sports Arena to be the host of Terry Norris’ next title defense against Buddy McGirt in the fall, and says he’s negotiating for a “major fight” in June or July--probably an Orlin Norris-James Warring bout for Warring’s International Boxing Federation cruiserweight title.

But when Esquinas speaks of the present, the news isn’t as exciting. Tonight at 7, Esquinas and Arena Boxing Inc. present their fourth monthly show. The headliner, Orlin Norris, qualifies as a main event fighter. His opponent? Probably not.

Norris (32-3 with 17 knockouts) is taking on Las Vegas’ Keith McMurray in a 10-round bout that matchmaker Eric Bonilla is calling a tuneup for Norris’ next bout, hopefully a title fight with Warring.

Heavyweight Alex Garcia of Los Angeles had been scheduled to fight Mike Gans of Los Angeles in a co-main event, but Gans was not approved by the California Athletic Commission.

Steve English, assistant executive officer for the commission, said, “It’s not a competitive fight.” Gans’ record is 10-8.

Bonilla made an attempt to dress up McMurray’s 16-14 record, but his analogy didn’t quite work.

“His record is a little bit over .500, which is good in baseball anyway,” said Bonilla, who works as an assistant to Sacramento promoter Don Chargin and as a matchmaker for Main Events Inc.

Like Esquinas, Bonilla said better days are ahead for the Sports Arena’s boxing shows.

“If you guys don’t like the opponents, hold it in for a little while because the following shows are going to be a lot better,” he said. “We had barely one week to put this card together.”

At least Bonilla was able to find an opponent for Norris this month. April’s opponent, Arthel Lawhorne, was not sanctioned by the California Athletic Commission because he was overweight and hadn’t fought in 2 1/2 years.

Norris said he was embarrassed by the whole affair.

“There were a lot of things that went on that were childish the way they were taken care of,” Norris said. “That’s what really upset me the most.”

The names are not as recognizable on the undercard, but the matchups might be better than the two main events. San Diego middleweight Paul Vaden (10-0) will fight John Armijo of Redondo Beach (12-4-1) in an eight-round bout. Lightweight Ricky Quiles of Cleveland (11-1-1) is taking on Efren Pinedo (14-2-4) of Tijuana.

Normally, Dan Goossen of Ten Goose Boxing would be co-promoting tonight’s card with Arena boxing promoter Scott Woodworth, but Goossen and the Sports Arena have split. Esquinas said Goossen wanted more than he could give him.

“Dan and I had a gentlemen’s agreement,” Esquinas said. “I was not willing to commit formally to an exclusive agreement. It had nothing to do with Dan. I just was not willing to commit to one person. I still consider Dan a friend and an ally.”